How to help your child prepare for university

University is an opportunity for your child to study something they are genuinely passionate about, gain life experiences and build on key skills that make them more employable. Here are some things to think about when considering whether university is right for your child:

• Think about your young peronl's career aspirations and long term goals - is a degree essential, do they have a particular career in mind, such as nursing, law or architecture?
• Degrees in wider subject areas can be invaluable in gaining knowledge, expertise and confidence to begin an exciting and fulfilling career
• Look into the employment outcome of the courses your child is considering, research how many jobs are out there
• University can give your child the chance to gain independence as a young adult - living away from home for the first time, based in a new city with new friends
• At university, they can enjoy opportunities such as volunteering, get involved with sports clubs and societies, and have access to careers advice, placements and internships, all in a safe and supported environment.

A good approach is for your child to choose subjects they’re good at and enjoy studying. This will likely lead them on to a university course that suits them.

League tables can be a good starting point when researching a university. They are compiled using a variety of different data looking at everything from research intensity, employability rates and staff to student ratios. It is important to note that just because a university ranks highly it doesn’t mean that it will be the best fit for your son or daughter. League tables should be considered alongside other criteria and not in isolation.

They could also take a look at university websites or the UCAS course listings to find degree courses that interest them.

Some more ideas to help your young peron narrow down their choices:

Courses

• What modules are there to choose from?
• What facilities are available?
• Is there a placement year?
• Is there a chance to study or work abroad?
• How is the course assessed?
• How is the course taught?
• Is it single or joint honours?
• Is it professionally accredited?
• What are the entry requirements?
• What is the length of the course?

Universities

• How far is it from home?
• Do you want a city or rural campus?
• How many sites/campuses does it have?
• Are there good transport links?
• What are the local attractions like?
• What clubs and societies are available?
• What is the accommodation like?
• Are there strong links with industry?
• What is the league table position?
• What are the student satisfaction (NSS) results?

To study with BU at undergraduate level, there are certain criteria your child will need to meet. Each course has its own entry requirements, so check individual course pages to see what qualifications and subjects they need and what careers each course could lead to.

Once you and your child have shortlisted universities, the best way to see them is on an Open Day.

One of the most useful things you and your child can do is to familiarise yourselves with the application process, tuition fees, student loans, and other sources of student finance so you know what to expect.

If you make a note of the key UCAS application deadlines, you can remind your child what they need to do. 

We want your child to be happy and healthy throughout their university experience, which is why teams like our Students’ Union (SUBU), ResLifeBU, SportBU and Student Services work together to organise a range of social, sporting and relaxing events during their first few weeks…and beyond!

You’ll find an incredible range of support services here at BU, which can be contacted before your child arrives at university:

• Additional Learning Support
  Supporting students with disabilities, specific learning differences and medical conditions
• Health and Wellbeing
  The Student health and Wellbeing service is confidential, completely free and open to all BU students
• SUBU Advice
  Free independent and confidential advice on housing, money and personal matters offered by our Students' Union
• Student Support and Engagement Team
  Advice or support to help you through any personal or academic issues
• Living in the UK
  Find out more about the weather, shopping and public holidays in the UK
• Immigration and Visas
  International students support to meet their immigration conditions
• Student Medical Centre
  Offers a full range of medical services, health and advice.

We understand that sending your son or daughter to university can be a worry, particularly if it is their first time living away from home. At BU, we have a wealth of services in place to support the wellbeing of our students, which are signposted to them throughout their study.

We are only able to give you information regarding your son/daughter where we are permitted to do so by data protection laws. If we are aware that your son or daughter is experiencing health or welfare difficulties, we may suggest they contact you or do this on their behalf if they provide us with a signed statement of consent. We will only contact you without their express consent in exceptional cases where doing so is in their vital interests e.g. a medical emergency.

If you are concerned about your son or daughter and contact us, in some cases, we may be able to contact the student to tell them that you have been in touch, but generally we encourage you to talk to them directly about how they are finding the university experience. You can also use the provided information about our student wellbeing services to direct them to support and activities that they may find helpful.